Device for turning platform covers on slip-lasted shoes



DEVICE F01 TURNING PLATFORM COVERS ON SLIP-LASTED SHOES Filed Nov. 15, 1945 W. PRUE 3,48,%2

[nven i0?" Patented Sept. 6, 1949 DEVICE FOR TURNING rmrrromr G-OVERS N SLIP-LASTED SHOES Walter W. Prue, Auburn, Maine, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston,

Mass, a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application November 15, 1946, Serial Nd. 709,927

This invention relates. to devices for use in the turning of the platform covers of platform shoes. Such shoes, which are disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,341,675, granted on February 15, 1944, on an application filed in the name of John J. Walsh, are characterized by a relatively thick platform of soft material interposed between the insole or sock lining and theoutsole and having its edge covered with sheet material which has been stitched to the upper and the insole or sock lining and which is later laid over and secured to the lower marginal portion of the platform. While the platform may consist of a midsole alone, it usually comprises a midsole and a wedge heel secured together as a unitary assembly. a

Before the cover can be laid and secured under the platform, it must first be turned down from the upright position in which it was stitched. The operation of turning the cover is often performed after a last has been inserted in the shoe and after the platform has been applied. The cover usually hugs the upper of the shoe tightly and cannot be turned by hand without considerable difficulty. Examples of machines for turning such platform covers may be found in United States Letters Patent No. 2,414,885, granted January 28, 1947, upon the application of Charles G. Melanson and No. 2,429,276, granted October 21, 1947, upon the application of Eugene J. Ray.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple device for enabling an operator to turn and tension a platform cover by a force which he applies directly to the shoe and over which, therefore, he has immediate control. In accordance with this object, the device herein illustrated comprises, in combination with a means for gripping the platform cover of a shoe, a pivotally mounted plate engageable with the bottom of the shoe and arranged to tilt as the operator rocks the shoe about the pivotal mounting while the platform cover is held by the gripping means to cause the platform cover to be turned and tensioned. As shown herein, the gripping means may consist of a treadle operated bench pincer and the pivotally mounted plate may be yieldingly held by a spring in a normal position against a stop. The plate may have its major portion substantially flat with its edge adjacent to the pincer raised above the level of its fiat portion to engage the margin of the shoe bottom adjacent to the pincer and thereby force the margin of the platform upwardly against the seam uniting the cover with the upper and sock lining 2 Claims. (01. 12-1) 2 or insole while, at thesame time, facilitating the tensioning of the platform cover.

1 These and other features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

. Referring to. the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an illustrative device showing the platform cover gripped by the pincer;

Fig. 2 is'a side elevation of the operating instrumentalities showing'a portion of the shoe at an intermediate stage of the operation; and

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing a portionof the shoe at the completion of the operation, a

The supporting structure of the device comprises a bracket Hi secured upon a work bench 12. A stationary pincer jaw [4 has a tail portion in which is rigidly secured to the bracket Ill. Fulcrumed upon the stationary pincer l4 by a pivot pin 18 is a movable'pincer jaw 20 having a downwardly extending tail 22. A sprocket chain 24 passing over an idler sprocket 26, which is journaled for free rotation in the bracket It, has one end connected to the tail 22 and its opposite end connected to a treadle 28. A bracket 30 secured to the floor is provided with a fulcrum 32 about which the treadle 28 may be depressed by the toe of the operator to move the tail 22 to the left as shown in Fig. l and thereby close the jaw 20 upon the jaw I4. The jaw 20 is normally held open by a tension spring 34 secured at its upper end to the jaw 20 and anchored at its lower end to the bracket 10.

Securely fixed to the outer face of the stationary gripper jaw I4 is an arm or bracket 36 which carries a pivot pin 38 upon which is fulcrumed a plate 40. The major portion of the plate 40 is substantially flat but the edge of the plate which is adjacent to the pincer jaw I4 is raised slightly above the flat portion of the plate as indicated by the reference character 42 (Fig. 1). The plate 40 is normally held again a stop 44 by a spring 46 acting on a plunger 48. When the plate is in this normal position, the flat portion of the plate slopes downwardly away from the raised edge 42 with a slight inclination from the horizontal.

In operating the device, a shoe S mounted upon a last L and having a platform P and a platform cover C is held in the position shown in Fig. 1 and a portion of the platform cover is inserted between the open jaws of the pincer. The operator then depresses the treadle 28 to cause the jaw 20 to grip the platform cover against the jaw l4, and he thereupon swings the shoe toward 3 him into the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein the raised edge 42 serves as a fulcrum to tension the partially turned platform cover and to press the margin of the platform P toward the seam which unites the platform cover with the upper and sock lining or insole. Further downward swinging of the shoe will cause the shoe bottom to engage the plate adjacent to its remote edge whereupon the shoe and plate will rock together about the fulcrum 38 into the position shown in Fig. 3 as the operator imparts additional tension to the cover. The treadle 28 is then released to loosen the grip of the pincer jaws and another as yet unturned portion of the platform cover is.

inserted between the pincer jaws. The operation is repeated in this manner until the entire cover has been turned. 7

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A platform cover turning machine, comprising a treadle operated bench pincer for gripping a portion of the platform cover of a shoe, a plate having an unobstructed upper surface engageable with the platform of the shoe, an arm carried by said pincer, a pivotal mounting on said arm for said plate, and yieldable plunger means carried by said arm for holding said plate in a stop position wherein the plate is but slightly inclined from the horizontal, said pivotal mounting being positioned just below the plate and close to the gripping portion of the pincer and being arranged to enable the plate to tilt as the operator rocks the shoe to turn and tension the gripped portion of the platform cover, and said plate having its major portion substantially flat and having its edge adjacent to the pincer raised above the level of its flat portion to engage the margin of the platform adjacent to the pincer to enable the plate to apply a concentrated pressure at said margin to press the platform toward the seam of the platform cover as the platform cover is tensioned.

2. A platform cover turning machine, comprising-a treadle operated bench pincer for gripping a portion of the platformwcover of a shoe, a plate having an unobstructed upper surface engageable with the platform of the shoe, an arm carried by said pincer, a pivotal mounting on said arm for said plate, said pivotal mounting being positioned just below the plate and close to the gripping portion of the pincer, said plate having its major portion substantially flat and having its edge adjacent to the pincer slightly raised above the level of its fiat portion to engage the marginof the platform adjacent to the pincer,

a stop on said arm between said mounting and said pincer, positioned to hold the raised edge portion of saidplate at the gripping portion of said pincer, and yieldable means carried by said arm for retaining said plate against said stop.

' WALTER W. PRUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

